Webb Simpson Takes Sole Possession Of The Lead at The Barclays

JERSEY CITY, NJ - In the weeks leading up to The Barclays, Liberty National was advertised as a very long and brutally difficult golf course.

It was too bad that Paul Goydos, Sergio Garcia and Steve Marino didn’t receive the memo about how difficult the course was meant to play because each of them went out and blistered Liberty National on Thursday.

Goydos, Garcia and Marino each posted rounds of 65 and it was looking as if Liberty National was going to replace former Hoboken Mayor, Peter Cammarano—who served just a month in office before being arrested in July for allegedly accepting more than $25,000 in bribes—as the new laughing stock of New Jersey.

But, those who were instrumental in The Barclays moving to Liberty National this year could take a deep breath and relax as high winds and heavy rain swept through the area, making the course play brutally difficult for the morning wave.

“It was very difficult out there” Sergio Garcia said following his five-over-par round of 76 this morning.  “It was hands down, I mean, forget about the PGA, it was the longest course I've played this year.”

“That out there today was as tough as any course we will play all year” Ian Poulter said after his round of 72 earlier in the day.

“I was watching it a little bit this morning and it didn't look like anybody was having a whole lot of fun” Paul Goydos said.  “And quite frankly, I went downstairs about nine o'clock and looked down and didn't look like the guy parking the cars was having a whole lot of fun, either.”

Luckily for PGA Tour rookie, Webb Simpson, the rain stopped at around noon and some occasional gusts of wind were all he needed to worry about during his afternoon round.

Simpson recorded five birdies and just two bogeys on his way to a 68, which tied Ernie Els for the low round of the day.

Simpson’s 68 today followed a 66 in round one, and was good enough to earn him the first lead of his young career.

“I'm sure a lot of emotions will be going through my head tomorrow” Simpson said following his round.  “But you know, I'm a big believer in prayer and so I'll go to bed saying a few prayers tonight and come out tomorrow just like I did today.”

Goydos got it down to nine-under-par with back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th before bogeying three out of his last four holes to finish with an even par round of 71.

Marino also followed up his 65 with a 71 this afternoon.

Tiger Woods, who seems to enjoy playing at Liberty National about as much as he used to enjoy playing at Westchester Country Club, bogeyed the 18th hole, signed for a one-over-par 72 and high-tailed it out of the joint without speaking to the media for the second consecutive day.

With a number of players on the leaderboard having little or no experience winning golf tournaments, The Barclays is still completely up for grabs as we head into the weekend.

As of right now though, most of the field is simply hoping that they won’t be forced to change their flights and extended their hotel reservations.

Hurricane Danny is schedule to hit the New York/New Jersey area tomorrow, which could result in a complete washout of the third round.